1/4 cup soft shortening
1/4 cup softened butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 slightly beaten egg white, thinned with a little water
3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

Makes about 2 dozen 1-1/2" cookies.

1. Preheat oven to 375°
2. Cream shortening, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla.
3. Sift flour and salt. Add to creamed mixture.
4. Roll dough into 1" balls. Dip them slightly in beaten egg whites. Then roll them in finely chopped nuts.
5. Place about one inch apart on greased cookie sheet.
6. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven.
7. Quickly press your thumb gently on top of each cookie, creating a crater. This can be hot! Alternately, use a 1/2 tsp. measuring spoon (about the size of your thumb), and press it into the hot cookie. No more burnt thumbs!
8. Return the cookies to the oven and bake an additional 8 minutes.
9. Cool completely.
10. Place chopped candied fruit, jelly, homemade jam (our favorite), or colored powdered sugar icing in each crater.